These days, with rising prices of food, gas, and higher education, spending on such “luxuries” as massage therapy, shiatsu, and acupuncture may nit be practical. However, these forms of complimentary health care may be exactly what you need to recover from an injury. Here are a few tips on finding ways to make these therapies more affordable.

1. Sign up for your employer’s flexible spending account. These accounts allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars (so you save money by not having to pay tax on your income) that can be spent on approved medical expenses, including massage therapy, acupuncture, nutritional assessments, and chiropractic care, among many others. There is some bookkeeping and organization required on your part as receipts must be kept and faxed or mailed, but the savings can really add up.

2. Some practices may be able to waive or offer reduced copays. Talk with your practitioner and see if this is an option…it never hurts to ask. The co-pays can really add up. With physical therapy, for example, you may require 2-3 treatments a week for a period of 6 weeks. With an average copay of $15-20, that means you could total over $250/month for that alone, not to mention copays for prescriptions and doctors visits.

3. Explore the option of volunteering or bartering. Many yoga studios will give people free classes if they volunteer to help at the sign in desk before and after class. I also know of Reiki practitioners and chiropractors who provide free care in exchange for such services as yard work, web design, painting, marketing, and cleaning. Think about your talents, as well as any physical limitations you may have, and talk to your provider to see if they might be interested in bartering.

4. Check out local schools in your area. Many of the massage, Shiatsu, and acupuncture schools have student clinics where you can receive treatment by a student who is approaching their graduation and is supervised by faculty/staff. You can benefit from these therapies usually at less than half the cost of going to a private center.

5. Check with your health insurance to see if they offer any discounts for using “preferred providers.” This means that although the insurance company doesn’t pay for your treatment, they have relationships with certain providers who will offer their subscribers as much as a 20% discount on services.

6. Get early care! The sooner you address the problem, the fewer secondary effects you will experience and the less likely you are to develop a chronic condition.

7. Treat yourself well. Eating right, exercising, managing stress, and getting enough sleep are all important for your overall health and well-being and for injury prevention and management. The healthier you are, the less likely you are to suffer an injury, lost days from work, and the financial hardship that accompanies all those appointments, prescriptions, and products.

I hope some of these tips are helpful. Complimentary therapies can really contribute to the speed and success of your recovery and should not be viewed as unnecessary splurges.